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MLB free agency 2017: 5 potential teams for Aroldis Chapman

By Joshua Sadlock

Aug 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) throws against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning of game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) throws against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning of game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Dodgers

Re-signing Kenley Jansen should be the number one priority for the Dodgers this winter. Over his seven-year career, Jansen has nearly matched Chapman’s strikeout ability with none of the headaches. Both are 29, and will seek five-year deals. If the Dodgers are able to land both, they could mimic the Andrew Miller-Cody Allen combo that allowed the Cleveland Indians to reach the World Series.

LA could use an upgraded bullpen. Ace Clayton Kershaw has a career postseason ERA of 4.55, but his peripheral numbers very closely match his regular season numbers. Time and time again, Kershaw has been done in by the team’s middle relievers allowing inherited runners to score.

It would not be out of the realm of possibility that the Dodgers would attempt to sign both Jansen and Chapman. They had a trade for him all but locked up with the Reds last year before news of the domestic violence accusations broke. Would the front office be willing to go back down the same road with Chapman?

The Dodgers front office makes deals with play money. Combining active and dead money, topping $300 million in payroll commitments really is not an issue. With Chapman and Jansen, the Dodgers would give themselves the best one-two punch in the National League. So long as he gets his money, Jansen should be able to accept a role like Miller’s in Cleveland. The Dodgers have been making steps to lower their payroll to a more reasonable level, but the chance to build a super-bullpen may be too attractive to pass up.

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